LaAu2 and CeAu2 surface intermetallic compounds grown by high-temperature deposition on Au(111)

Abstract

We report on the crystal structure and electronic bands of LaAu2 and CeAu2 surface intermetallic compounds grown by high-temperature deposition on Au(111). By scanning-tunneling microscopy we study the formation of different alloy phases as a function of growth temperature and lanthanide coverage. We determine the specific growth conditions to achieve monolayers and bilayers of LaAu2 and CeAu2 with high crystalline quality. Due to lattice mismatch with the underlying Au substrate, both LaAu2 and CeAu2 exhibit long-range moiré patterns, which can serve as templates for further nanostructure growth. By angle-resolved photoemission we map the two-dimensional band structure of these surface alloys, discussing the nature of the different spectral features in the light of first-principles calculations. © 2013 American Physical Society. ; This work was supported in part by the Spanish MICINN (MAT2010-21156-C03-01 and -C03-03) and the Basque Government (IT-621-13). The SRC is supported by the NSF under Grant No. DMR-0537588. The authors acknowledge an A.R.C. grant (TheMoTherm 10/15-03) from the CfBelgique and financial support from the Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia. Computer time was made available by PRACE-2IP DECI-8 (EU FP7 Grant No. RI-283493) and the Belgian CECI. ; Peer Reviewed